Well tool construction



Nov. 16, 1943. o. A. BROWN 2,334,309

WELL TOOL CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 28, 1941 Ju n/01 h; GPA/2.32am /7 6 g/wwd/ w Patented Nov. 16, 1943 K I TUNITIEDQSTAT M asseaoef pg. L I,

WELD Toot. o0NsrluioirloN4;.

10a. A. Brown, *Mont'ebello,

. Calili, assi gnor to Baash-Boss'lfool Company,LosAngelescalif a corporation off-California,

' Application r bm'aryzs, 1941,-

5 Claims. (01. ass-27).;

This invention relates to-well tools and relates more particularly toi rotary well drilling tools of the class embodying parts associated for-relative longitudinal movement andgforv the transmission of torque: A general object ofthe in vention. is to providexxdependable long wearing well toolsof the character. mentioned. 1.

or these pats, retainin an of the h mnts for further use, y p

J A further objec vide a tool of the character referred to in which the replaceable parts. are easily and quickly replaced Jwhen :worn an'd are dependably retained --Various well tools which are to berconnected in rotary well drilling strings embody elements splined or keyed togetherifor relative axial movement and for the transmission of rotation. Dur-. ing the well drilling operations the string is subjected to {heavy constantly varying -torsi0na1. strains. These varying torsional strains subject the key or spline parts of the tools to severewear and, in many instances, the key orspline parts are so badly worn afteronlya few hours of *o'p:

eration that they must' be remachined or dis-t carded. -It has been the general practice to form the key 'or spline parts directly. onthe body ele-e ments of the tools and when the parts areAex-1 cessivelybatteredor worn it sometimes becomes inktheir activepositions without theemployment of screws or like securingmembers which might become broken ordisplaced. r i

- jflhe various objects 'and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of atypical preferred form;

and ,application '7 of theinvention, throughout which description reference. is made to .the 3101-" companying drawing, inwhich';

Fig. 1: is {a ,side elevation ,offla rotary well drilling toolembodying -the. features of the present invention with a portion of the outer section in.v longitudinal cross section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary verticalqdetailed sectional view of a-.major portion ofthe tool. Figs 3 and 41are enlarged transverse detailedasectional views necessary to discard the entire .body elements. Another object of this invention is to provide.

a 'well drillingtoolof the class embodying slid-r ably engaging torque *transmitting spline parts that ischaracterized by long wearingtorque transmitting parts. The sliding torque trans mitting parts 'of the tool provided by this 'in-'- vention withstand severe and extended usage.

Another objectof this invention is to provide awell tool of the charactermentioned. in which the cooperating slidablyengaging torque trans mitting elements are of dissimilar materials -re-' ducing the wear and materially prolonging the; active lifejofthe parts. 11 1 Another'object of this invention isto provide a tool construction of i the character mentioned in whichthe ,torque transmitting parts, or; at-

so that the tool may. be inexpensively "recondie' tioned by simply replacingthese parts when'the same becomeworn; g v

' 'Another object o fjthis inventio'nis topr'ovida afw'ell toolconstruction 'of the character referred l to which the replaceable torque transmitting arts are formed ofa material which will assume least the wear taking elements, are replaceable:

the-greater part of t e wear so that the 'p'ermanent parts are subjected "to! a minimum of we ar'i and may remain 1 effective forthe life ofthe tool. In the constructionofthe present inveni.

tion. practically: all of, thewear is assumed by; therep aceable part ancl h tq li d ly a inexpensively reconditioned by the replacement taken as indicated by (lines 3.--3 {and 4-4, re.- spectively; onFig. 1, and Fig. 5 isa fragmentary perspective viewof one of thereplaceable. parts. The construction of: the, present invention is adapted for embodiment in wellfi'tools varying greatly in design .andyintendedf use, being suitable for embodiment in practically .all well tools I requiring or employing relatively shiftabletorque transmitting. members. In the following'detailed disclosure I will. describe the. embodimentafand' use .of .1 the .inventionillustrated in' the drawing, itnbeing understoodithat the invention is not to be=-construed as. limited or restricted to this particular former-application. V Theywell tool nillustratediin the drawing and embodying the present .invention-amay be said to comprise,' generally, twolsections A :andB associated for. relativei longitudinal. movement, 5 andymeans I U ".for transmitting torque 'or rotaryforces fromfone section to theother;

the upper section,forms ;the.outer elementlof the;telescopic xassembly-.andlreceives the inner or mandrel section B; t The section: A"is.:an" elon-' gate tubular element preferably 10f substantialv length, Means, isqprovidedattheupper'end of the section' n; for facilitating the connection. of

the section with the. drilling string or ;an 'adjat of, this invention at), proaboutthe wash pipe cent tool. In the caseillustrated a sub or connecting member H has a pin l2 screw threaded in the upper end of the section A and the upper end of the member I I has a tapered screw threaded socket [3 for receiving a threaded connecting pin of the well string, not shown. A longitudinal fluid passage [4 extends through the member II from the-socket 1-3 to thelowerendofthepin [2.

The section B is in the naturegof a mandrel or stem. The stem section B isa tubular member received in the opening [5 of the section A The section B 8X? tends downwardly beyond the lower end of the section A and is provided at its lower end with with substantial clearance.

means forconnection with the-wellf'string'or. with downwardly and inwardly. The sides of thesplines 21 are preferably smooth and vertical.

In the particular formation illustratedthe rear.

sides 3] of the splines 21, relative to the right handdirection of rotation, are radial with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tool, while the forward sides of the splines are parallel with therearsidesij, The splines ,2! are quite thick and; thereis 3a 'sl-lficien't {number "of g plines to dependably transmit the 'heavy torsional strains;

In the embodiment illustrated, there are four equally spaced splines 2'1.

a tool in the Well string. Inthe construction illustrated a sub orconnecting member I6 is screw threaded on the lower-end-of the' 's'ecti-on B and the member carries a downwardly projec-t ing screw threaded pin H for connection with the well string. The member 16 is tubular to conduct the circulation fluid; i

It :is preferredto provide means forco'nducb ing the circulation fluid "from the connecting member l l directly to I the lower section B so that the: circulation fiuid does not flow into or through The 'grooves 28 for receiving the splines 21 are formed in the lower half or lower portion of the J s ction- A; ""TIfhe wall"'of this lower portion of the body.,sectionA is thickened to provide ample material at the grooves 28. The thickened wall 7 portion or t he-seetion'A provides-an upwardly facingannular shoulder 32 on the interior of the section, whichis interrupted bythe grooves 28 l he-shoulder i's :en'ga-geable with the shoulders 38 to' limit the :upward movement lof i the 1 section.

' A relatiwe f' to' tl-ie section=A-1and-thedower rend oil the interior of the section *A A wash pipe ltis threaded in the lower portion' of the passa e" downwardly M of the member H an'd 'xtends toen'ter'ithe opening 49 of the' section- B. '-'I-'he Wash pipe 1 8 is suffic'iently 'longto-have a sub-' stazitial portionreceived in the opening I awhen the sections A and Barein their most extended relative positions. l\ leans is provided icirFseaIing the upper portion of -t-he-section B and contains packing 2:! vfor sealingwith the pi'pe lt. A gland orifollower 22 is threaded in the upper pbl tidnof the socket 213 .to actuate orfcompressth'e packing 2 l. piNotches I23 are provided in the :up per end. of thezg'land or follower -22.

ring Jill :has as. finger. 2B for engaging in Yanotoh 23 :to :loc'k :the followeri 22 against unthreadirigr; It be seen that the'wash pipe I S receiVes the circulation ":fiuidfrom: the passage M and ol-is- A socket 20 is formed in A spring ringi zll i's fsprung ior la'tc'hed into an annular roove-25 in the wall of the socket zil and-the charges it directlyintoi the-iopening ls so that thecirculation .fluid :ii's preventedfrom entering llhe :means 1:9 servesto transmit itorqueizdrz c thei'section tary forces-:between :the sections A and 'B' while allowing :iree; relative longitudinal; movement of:

thezsectionsr, The [means JEiisif'n the 'nature' 'ofl a spline :means embodying cooperating-islidably engaging parts on .th'e" telescopicallylrelatedipor l tions of the sectionsLAzandB: .In the arrangement illustrated ntherepare spaced longitudinal: splines 127onthersection B received in longitudi nal grooves 2-8 in the-section'-A,itbeingiamderes stood that thisfelatibnshi'p mayibe reversedif desired. The;splines 12:1- are"preferably,-:though' not necessarily, integral iparts. of the seotion'IB and are o'f substantiaLleng-th. In the-Jparticular .tool, illustrated thesplin'es .21 extend upwardlyfrom the: connecting member -to a head ZQ on the iupp'er endoftheusection-iB; The head? 29 containsathe. packing F2 the gland 2c; eraand its received in the section A with suitable clearance "to assist ina-guiding' the'gsections for of the head :29 presents a series the/splines 12H.

i almost the entire'len'gth ottheg, I

is preferred to make the partsMTsIig'HtIy'shQrtBr .65'

the s'ecticn A may eneage againstthe upper end of th'e cormecting:member f6 to' lim-it thBidQ WXT-a. N

ward-"movement 01 the :section. 'A with respect to the sec-tion fl'u In;somerapplicatidnsthevshcmi ders iioiarrd -32 mayiconstit'uteijar shouldersghhat is, theshouldersimay bei'forciiilyrbroughttogether; p

to -providea jarring .-action. in 5a like-manner.

the lower i'end io'f the section a t-maybe .iamrod;

down againstthe connecting memberttfi.

.Hhe gnoovesvfiiiaextend'from the :lower'en-dioii Q the 'sectioniAto [the shoulder {32 andare formed.

grooves v 23; are =:co"nsi'd-ematloly,Weider,(thanv the splines, cforaexam'ple, they (may lee-approximately twice as wide-rasathe splines; .Where, the tool is intended r-to 'norm'a-lly'trans'mit right, hand ailm sio'nal; forces :thev splines, 2:1 :occupy'the forward portions of'theaelfooves flyrelative tof-the right; 'handxcli-rectionaof rotation. I-he-fonward walls v v of .thergro'ovesflfi xmay, befitang'ent to raraoimlfi concentric with :the doneitudinalsaxis of the; 0 to; the parallel: "with :and. to cooperate; with ;.the 1 forward sides of the splin The arxwall w. of itheigrooyes zt are jradial relative to the long'itudinal axis, of the. tool. The outer wvval-ls r of thearoozvesfla arejpreterably concentnic -to;=the-,- centralzlongitudinal E'BJX'iS-Qf ther-tool. I

fll he :rneans tll further includes wear takin memb s. pantsi tr neaeedabe eenj li sp ines; 21,;and ;.o rtain wallsofthe grooveslat- The weantaking parts tmare in the nature of r e-,-

plaoeabl ef-biocksarranged between the torque transmitting surfaces and .walls of-thesplirfesm ended lto and grooves. 23. Where -the tc'iolfis int v transmitright hand' torque 'the ai'e 'ar ran ed mine groovesfilto' occupypositionsbe-i tweent rear. walls 7 are} elongate elements and "eX'te jes'flB'. .It'

than the g' ro oves is sothat their upperrends are below the. shoulder sz'wnere tneycanndt be engaged-with the shoulders 39 and so that "thei'r lower ends are above the bottomif the; section v A'where theycannot strike theihenibeffli l newearfitakingparts c4 aresnapea and pro ertion'ed"tofseat -in the grooves; 28 a-hii to o'ccuj lli' those portions-of the grooves not o'ccilpied 1E the s'pl'i hes il." The forward and rearsitles of the parts 913 are -radial witha espedt to the trail vertianaies er the teol toiespectivelyic .re'argsides fs'lilcfijtne splines '21 and ,tne

hroughout 9 Y operate withth'xreari sides of.,,thessplines 21 and the rear .walls' 33 -of the" grooves '2 8. \Theouterfaces of the parts '34 are preferably curved to bear against the-curved outer walls-of the grooves :28 and-the inner sides of the parts "34 are curved or concave to have suitable clearance with the cylindrical exterior of the section B.

It willnbe-observed' that the rear-sides of- -the parts 34- engage against the rear walls of the grooves 28 so that the parts positively turn with" thesectionA-when the same is-rotated 'in the right hand direction and the forward sides of the parts '34 bear-against the rear sides tlo'fthe splines Zl-to transmit thejrotationto the splines and the section B I l i In accordance with he invention the wear taking parts 34 are formed of a material *diiferent than the material'of splines 2'l. The" parts 3d. are' constructed f a n 'i'aterialof such character that the parts 34wil1 assume or re.-

ceive the major portion of the wear relieving the I splines Tlof excessivewearw It is customar'yto construct the main element's"of a well tool of steel and in such cases the parts 34 are formed of a material which will assume the major share of the wear when cooperating with steel. In some cases I have found it desirable to construct the wear taking parts 34 ofbronze but in other cases it may be found desirable to form the part 34 of a material harder than steel.

forward sideseof the weartakingparts '34 bear against the' rear-sides 3| of Ithesplines z'l'to transmit'stherotary force's-from: the section A to the section B. The engagement of the parts 34 with the splines 2'l issuch' that the engaging surfaces may slide freely one'on' the other, thereby permitting relative longitudinal movement between the sections. The means Hl provides-for the positive transmission of rotation between the sections withoutinterfering with the free relative longitudinal movement. With-- the parts 34 constructed as above described,

these elements assume or take practically all' of the wear resulting from the transmission' of torqueand resulting from relative longitudinal movement of thesections A and B when torque is transmitted throughthe tool. Accordingly, the splines-2i are relieved-pf practically all of the wears For thisreason, thetool-may'remain .in'oper'ationfor a long period before requiring reconditioning. 7 *After extended'use the parts 34 mayb ecome' excessively worn, 1 'When'this occurs the toolisi The invention includes novel and very efiective means for removably securing the parts 34 in the grooves .28. Radial or lateral openings 35 are provided in the wall of the section A to communicate with the grooves 23. In the construction shown in the drawing thereis an opening 35 communicating with the upper and lower portion of eachgroove 28, the openings 35 being suitably spaced from theends of the grooves. I prefer to elongate the openings 35 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the well tool. Each wear taking part .34 isprovided with projections or lugs 36 to engage in the openings 35 in its respective groove 28. The lugs 36 may be integral with the parts 34 and project from the outer faces of the parts to extend into the openings 35. The lugs 36 are shaped to correspond "further extended service.

taken apart and the worn partsf34 are removed from the section A. New or replacement parts 34 are installed in the grooves 28 and the tool is again assembled. This conditions the toolfor The tool construction of the present invention is inexpensive and long wearing and may be reconditioned by merely replacing the readily removable parts 34.

Having described only a typical preferred form 'and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims. r

Having described myinvention, I claim: 1. A well tool to be interposed in a well string I including two sections telescopically related for to the openings 35 and may have their corners I bevelled oif'as' best shown in Fig. 5. It. is preferred to proportion the lugs 36 so that they do not project from the external surface of the section A. In assembling the construction, the.

wear taking parts 34 are arranged in their grooves 28 with the lugs 36 engaged in the openings 35. The sections A and B are then assembled in the telescopic relation andthe section B extendingthrough the section A retains the parts 34 in the grooves 28. The lugs 36 engaged in the openings 35 positively hold the parts against longitudinal movement, while the telescopically related sections A and B positively prevent lateral movement or displacement of the parts. V

It is believed that the utility'of the well tool construction of the present invention will be readily understood from the foregoing detailed description. When the tool is in operation the sections A and B are free for relative longitudinal movement, this movement being limited by the cooperation of the shoulders 30 and 32 and by the engagement of the section A withthe upper end of the connecting member it. When torque is being transmitted through the well string, as during well drilling operations, the

relative longitudinal movement and having opposing elongate longitudinally extending surfaces, a separate elongate wear taking part positioned within the outer telescopic section to be held against lateral displacementby the telescopic sections and having its opposite side extremities opposing said surfaces for the transmission of torque between the sections, one section havingan open ing, and a lug on said part engaging in saidopening to hold the part against longitudinal movement so that the part hassliding cooperation, with'said surface of the other section.

2. A telescopic well tool to be interposed in a L well string including two sections related for relative longitudinal movement, one section having a longitudinal groove, a longitudinal spline on the other section received in the groove to be in spaced relation to a side wall of the groove, means for connecting the sections in a well string, a

wear taking part contained entirely within the groove to bear on said wall and to slidablyco- "operate with the'spline for the transmission of rotation between the sections, the first named section having spaced openings joining the groove, and lugs on the wear taking part cooperating with said openings to hold the part against longltudinal'movement relative to said first, named section.

3. A well tool to be interposed in a well string including two telescopically engaged sections related for relative longitudinal movement, one section having longitudinal grooves and an abut: ment shoulder at one end of the grooves, splines on the other section received in grooves, a shoulder 'onusaiid-rothezt sectinn' engageable with. the

slidably-engaging theisplines for the transmission. of torque between -the 'sectionspand; means: for

holding said:partsyagainstslengitudinal movement relative tosaid. firstnamecl section in a position where they are clearer saidfirshnamed shoulder so thahthey'are not engageclzbythesecend named; shoulder.. .5 5

4, A well tool to beinterpo ed' ina Well string comprising a tubular outer section havingzspaeed longitudinal grooves, an innerseetion received in the outer section, the seetions being; related for relative longitudinal movement, spaced. longitudinal splines on. the: inner-section directly received in the grooves, the splines being-lot less:

width than the grooves leaving spaces int the grooves, and replaceable wear takingstrips in said spaces, each strip having one side bearing on a sidewall of a gI-"Ooveand.itsx other sideislidably coo pe'rable withaside surface, of the-spline Wh Q upies the groove, theinnersurfaee oi each sfirinommoaing: the external: surface m the heaningfcm the'outen wallet its-groove;

the outerseetion, itheiseetions, bein: relatetL-mz;

relative longiti-iclinal: movement, spaced: lbngitue. ciinal 'splmes-omthe innevseetion directly received, imithe grooves, the splines being of less-widththam the gmovee leavin spaeespimthe g-roovesorepllwq able wear taking strips in said/spaces, "each strip: having. one side bearing oniaa side-wall of. a. groove" andits--other-sidegslidabl-y eoeperablewith a side surface of the spline which occupies-the groove,

the innersurfaee oi =-each sinzip opposi-nzihe external sursfaee of the-.inner'section. ancl the outer surface of each. strip bearing on. the 'outerwall;

of its groova the outer ;haing. openings communicating with the grooves at the outerj walls thereof, and lugs on theouter sidessof strips-engaged in said openings-whole the strips; v

against.longitudinalmovement.

ORA -A. BROWN, 1 

